Temporary event notice (TEN)

The system involves an event organiser (the "premises user") giving a TEN to the licensing authority and also sending a copy of this to the Police and Environmental Health.

TENs can be used to authorise relatively small-scale, ad hoc events held in or on any premises involving no more than 499 people at any one time.

A TEN can be given in respect of both indoor and outdoor events. "Premises" means any place, whether indoors or outdoors. 

There are two types of TENs, a standard TEN, which is given no later than 10 working days before the event to which it relates and a late TEN, which is given not before 9 and not later than 5 working days before the event

A standard TEN

In the case of a standard TEN, the premises user must, no later than 10 working days before the day on which the event is to start, give duplicate copies of the notice to the relevant licensing authority, together with the fee. A copy of the notice must also be given to the relevant Chief Officer of Police and Environmental Health no later than 10 working days before the day on which the event is to start.

A Late TEN

In the case of a late TEN, the premises user must, no later than 5 working days before the day on which the event is to start, give duplicate copies of the notice to the relevant licensing authority, together with the fee. A copy of the notice must also be given to the relevant Chief Officer of Police and Environmental Health no later than 5 working days before the day on which the event is to start.

How Do I apply?

You submit an application to the Licensing Department.

For a standard TEN you must give a notice in duplicate to the Licensing Department, the relevant Chief Officer of Police and Environmental Health, at least 10 working days prior to the day on which the event will start (not including the day received and the day of the event).

For a late TEN you must give a notice in duplicate to the Licensing Department, the relevant Chief Officer of Police and Environmental Health, at least 5 working days prior to the day on which the event will start (not including the day received and the day of the event).

The notice needs to be sent to the Licensing Department together with the fee.

Fill in our request a licensing application form and select the 'temporary event notice (TEN)' form to complete your application.

What Does The Notice Need To Include?

The notice must be in the prescribed form and contain a statement of:

  • the licensable activities that will take place
  • the period during which it is proposed to use the premises for those activities
  • the times during the event period when licensable activities are to take place
  • the maximum number of persons to be allowed on the premises at any one time (not exceeding 499)
  • if the supply of alcohol is involved, whether the supplies will be for consumption on or off the premises or both
  • where the licensable activities include the supply of alcohol, the condition that all such supplies are made by or under the authority of the premises user
  • other matters prescribed by the Secretary of State in regulations

The application form provided on this website prompts you to provide all of the above information.

What Happens Once Notice Has Been Given?

If the TEN is within the limits of permitted temporary activities, and neither the Police nor Environmental Health have intervened to prevent the event happening, or have agreed a modification of the arrangements for the event, the Licensing Department will issue you with an acknowledgement of the TEN.

If the TEN exceeds the permitted limits the Licensing Department will give you a counter notice which will prevent the event from taking place. A copy of the counter notice will also be served on the Police and Environmental Health.

For a Standard TEN if the Police and Environmental Health are satisfied that allowing the premises to be used in accordance with the TEN would undermine the licensing objectives, they must, no later than 3 working days after being given a copy of the TEN, give the premises user and the Licensing Department an objection notice. The Licensing Department will then hold a hearing to consider the notice. The hearing will take place no later than 24 hours commencement of the event (as specified in the TEN). At the hearing the Licensing Committee will have regard to the notice and can issue a counter notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives, again, this will mean that the event cannot go ahead.

For a Late TEN if an objection is raised by the Police or Environmental Health that allowing the premises to be used in accordance with the TEN would undermine the licensing objectives, the event will not be allowed to go ahead.

Only the Police or Environmental Health can intervene to prevent an event covered by a TEN taking place. Only a limited number of TENs can be given in respect of any particular premises each year, and the Licensing Act gives powers to the Police to close premises in certain cases of disorder or noise nuisance when a TEN has effect. The Police can seek a court order to close premises for up to 24 hours in any geographical area that is experiencing or likely to experience disorder. Police also have the power to close premises instantly, for up to 24 hours, premises where a TEN has effect and that are disorderly, likely to become disorderly or are causing nuisance as a result of noise from the premises. Such orders may only be made where it is necessary in the interest of public safety in cases of disorder or to prevent nuisance in the case of noise coming from the premises.

Licensing authorities have no power under the Licensing Act 2003 to stop permitted temporary events once they have started. However, a local authority has powers under other legislation, such as powers to deal with a statutory nuisance, and can, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, issue a closure notice for up to 24 hours where noise nuisance is being caused at an event being authorised by TEN

Where the relevant licensable activities include the supply of alcohol, the TEN must make it a condition of that all such supplies of alcohol are made by or under the authority of the premises user.

Frequently asked questions

How Many TENs Can I Give?

Anyone aged 18 or over can give a maximum of five TENs per calendar year (only two of these may be late TENs).

Personal Licence holders can give 50 TENs (only 10 of these may be late TENs).

How Long Can My Event Last

Each event covered by a TEN can last up to 168 hours and no more than 15 TENs can be given in respect of any particular premises in any calendar year. There is also maximum aggregate duration of the periods covered by TENs at any individual premises of 21 days in any year.

There must be a minimum of 24 hours between events notified by a premises user or associates of that premises user in respect of the same premises.

Who Can Object To A TEN?

Provided that the criteria set out above are met, only the police or environmental health may intervene to prevent an event covered by a TEN notice taking place or agree a modification of the arrangements for such an event.

Who Must Give the TEN?

The 'premises user' must give the TEN.

Can a TEN be withdrawn?

A TEN may be withdrawn by the premises user' by then giving the Licensing Department a notice that they wish to withdraw the TEN. The notice of withdrawal must be given to the Licensing Department no later than 24 hours before the commencement of the event as specified in the TEN. Please note the fee is non-refundable therefore if the event does not take place you will not be entitled to any refund.

What Happens If The Premises Are Subject To A Premises Licence?

You can still apply for a TEN for premises that have a Premises Licence for example, to use your pub for an event involving the provision of regulated entertainment, e.g. for a wedding, where your Premises Licence does not authorise such a provision of regulated entertainment, it may be authorised by a TEN.

Do not forget that the limits in relation to permitted temporary activities will apply.

TENs Where The Premises Hold More Than 499 People

TENs can be granted for venues which have the capacity to hold more than 499 people as long as you ensure that the number of people on the premises during the event, to which the TEN relates,  does not exceed 499 at any one time. If you think that more than 499 people will attend the event you will need to apply for a Premises Licence to cover the event.

If this limit of 499 people is  exceeded, the event will be unauthorised and the premises user is liable to prosecution.

Does The TEN Need To Be Displayed?

The premises user must either:

  • secure that a copy of the TEN is prominently displayed at the premises being used for the permitted temporary activity
  • secure that the TEN is kept at the premises in his/her custody
  • secure that the TEN is kept at the premises in the custody of a person who is present and working at the premises and whom he has nominated for this purpose (and if this is the case, secure that a notice specifying this fact and the position held at the premises by that person is prominently displayed at the premises)

Last Updated on Monday, February 6, 2023